Retiree’s Clash with Council Over Costly Tree Mistake That Hurts
A retiree is in a dispute with the council after a tree fell on his car, causing significant damage and frustration over safety concerns
Sydney, Australia, Darryl Brown, Tree Damage, Council Dispute
Sydney: A retiree named Darryl Brown is having a tough time with the local council. A big gum tree fell on his car, which was parked right outside his home. He’s pretty upset because he had told the council about this tree before, thinking it might be a hazard.
This all went down after a wild storm hit Sydney’s Inner West just after Christmas. The storm knocked down trees and powerlines, but thankfully, no one got hurt. Still, Darryl’s car is now a wreck, and he’s worried it’s going to cost him a lot to fix.
People in the neighborhood have been worried about the trees for a while. There are a lot of old Kaffir Plum and gum trees lining the streets, and last year, the council promised to check them all out. But after this incident, folks are really angry.
Darryl shared some photos showing his car completely crushed under the massive tree. This isn’t the first time something like this has happened to him; it happened back in 2015 too. He said, “It hurts a bit” to see it happen again.
Now, with his car and fence damaged, he’s asking the council to step up and cover the costs. The Inner West council has reached out to him and said they’re willing to help him file a claim with their insurance.
They also mentioned they’d inspect all the trees on Rangers Rd when it’s convenient for Darryl, so he can point out any other concerns he has. It seems like the council is finally taking some action, but many locals are still worried about the state of the trees in their area.
Last year, Councillor Philippa Scott mentioned that residents were worried about the trees being neglected. She said the tree team is usually on top of things, checking and trimming regularly. But after this incident, they’re planning a full audit of all the trees to assess any risks.
It’s a bit of a mess, but hopefully, things will get sorted out soon for Darryl and the other residents.